Compare and contrast the differences between a light and electron microscope Although the theory between an optical and electron microscope is similar, the results that can be achieved vary tremendously. This is due to several factors but the most important of these being the resolution it is possible to achieve using the different microscopes. With an ordinary compound light microscope the average resolution achievable is 300 nm (m x 10-9) with a transmission electron microscope this …
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showed last 75 words of 430 total
…a glass or diamond knife). Also there is no guarantee that what goes into the microscope is what is in the world around us, as to see the objects detail more clearly the objects have to be heavily processed and stained and there is no guarantee that this does not damage the samples. If the staining does not damage the sample it is likely that the heavy metal salts used to disperse the electrons will.